Food storage container and container system

ABSTRACT

A food storage container has a base with a bottom, a continuous side wall extending up from the bottom and terminating at an upper end, a storage space within the side wall above the bottom, and an open top bounded by the upper end. A lid of the container has a main panel section and a perimeter skirt around the main panel section. The lid is configured to attach to and close off the open top near the upper end of the side wall. A tray of the container has a perforate panel and a tray foot. The tray is sized to fit within the storage space with the tray foot resting on the bottom of the base and the perforate panel elevated above the bottom of the base. A connecting structure is carried in part on the lid, in part on the base, and in part on the tray and is configured so that the lid and the tray can be connected to one another and to the bottom under the base.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure is generally directed to food storage containers,and more particularly to a storage container that includes a containerbase, a vented lid, and a perforate produce tray and a container systemhaving a plurality of the containers with connecting structuresconfigured to connect the lids, trays, and bases together for organizedstorage.

2. Description of Related Art

It is known in the art of food storage containers that produce lastslonger when stored in containers that are not completely sealed butinstead vented to the surrounding atmosphere. Produced needs to breatheand, thus, providing air flow to produce inside of a container extendsthe period before microorganisms can grow. This can keep the producefresher for a longer period of time. There are products available todaythat attempt to address this issue. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,367,651to Dart Industries discloses a storage container with a pair of ventsand plugs. The plugs can be opened or closed together or separately toallow the container to vent to atmosphere and to allow a user to controlthe amount of air flow. A bottom of the storage container is alsoprovided with bumps to create and troughs beneath produce stoned in thecontainer.

Vented lids for storage containers are also known in the art. Most ofthese types of lids are provided for use during microwave usage. Thevent is typically provided in the top panel of the lid for allowingsteam to escape the container. Providing the vent in the top of the lidmay allow spilled food or liquid items to enter the storage containerunintentionally, even with the lid on the container. Often times,storage containers are used to store food items within a refrigeratoremploying wire shelving. Other times, such storage containers arestacked one on the other during use. In either situation, the likelihoodof spillage entering the vent on top of one of the containers isrelatively high.

Although produce storage containers attempt to address longevity andfreshness concerns, these types of storage containers typically are notprovided with efficient organizational characteristics for storing oneor more of the containers and lids when not being used. However, storageand organization of non-produce and other such containers is an issuethat others in the art have also attempted to address. Conventional foodstorage containers are commonly comprised of generally or substantiallyrigid or flexible, resilient plastic components. Plastic containers ofthis type generally have a base and a lid that attaches to the top ofthe base to seal the container. The base typically has a bottom and aside wall that together define an interior storage space in thecontainer. The lid can be attached to the base to cover the open top andto seal the storage space.

Each container typically includes a corresponding lid sized to fit itsassociated container. A user will often store empty containers in akitchen cabinet or pantry area when not in use. When not being used, thelids can easily become separated from their associated container bases.Users have expressed frustration over lost or misplaced lids and thedifficulty in finding the correct lid for a selected container.

Some known container systems include lids that attach to the bottom oftheir respective container bases to help manage the containers and lidsby keeping the lids and their corresponding containers together. Suchlids, when attached to the base bottoms, often hinder space efficientstacking and storage of multiple containers.

During normal use, a container base is also typically filled with fooditems and covered with the lid. Users sometimes stack full containersfor refrigerator storage or for transport to a location outside thehome. However, the stacked containers tend to be unstable and can slideoff of each other and spill. This makes it difficult to keep thecontainers organized in refrigerated storage and difficult to transport.A known storage container system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,886,694,commonly assigned to the assignee of the present patent, employs a lidand base configuration whereby a base can rest on the lid of anothercontainer and register with the lid. However, the lid of the underlyingbase does not connect or attach to the base of the overlying container.

Another example of a prior art container system is shown and describedin U.S. Pat. No. 5,692,617 and includes a plurality of containers and aplurality of lids that can attach to one another in a variety of ways.Each lid includes opposed male and female fasteners centrally locatedwith one fastener on each side of the lid. The lids are connectable as astack by interconnecting adjacent male and female fasteners of adjacentlids. Additionally, a stack of lids can be attached to a stack of nestedcontainers. Each container includes a female fastener, identical to thefemale fastener on the lids, located on its bottom surface. The stackedlids can be attached to the nested containers by snapping an exposed oneof the aforementioned male lid fasteners to an exposed female fastenerof the bottom of an exposed container. When full and in use, thesecontainers could be stacked upon one another, but the stack would not bestable because of the small size and configuration of the male andfemale connectors on the bases and lids.

Still another prior art container system is shown and described in U.S.Pat. No. 4,951,832 and includes a plurality of containers and lids. Theinner surface of each lid is contoured either to snap-fit over the opentop or onto the bottom of its respective container. The different sizedcontainers can be stacked in a nested configuration, one inside theother, while the lids remain attached to the bottom of the correspondingcontainer. The lids can not be stacked together and the containers whenfull and in use can not be stacked on top of one another in a stablearrangement.

Yet another prior art container system is shown and described in U.S.Pat. No. 5,409,128 and includes stackable containers with lids. Thecontainers have a first threaded segment on an outer surface near theopen top adapted to engage with a first threaded segment on an innersurface of the lids so that the lids close off the open top of thecontainer. Additionally, each lid includes a stepped portion of its top.The stepped portion includes a second threaded segment sized and shapedto mate with a second threaded segment formed within a lower rim of thecontainer so that the lids can thread to the bottom of adjacentcontainers when stacked. A stable stack can be created, but the lids cannot attach to one another for storage and the threaded connection methodcan be somewhat difficult to use, particularly with full containers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent upon reading the following description in conjunction with thedrawing figures, in which:

FIG. 1 shows an exploded perspective view of one example of a storagecontainer constructed in accordance with the teachings of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 shows a partial cross section through a portion of the base ofthe container in FIG. 1 to illustrate the produce tray inserted in thebase.

FIG. 3 shows a top plan view of the produce tray of the container inFIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows a bottom perspective view of the produce tray of thecontainer in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 shows a bottom plan view of the produce tray in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 shows a side view of the produce tray in FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 shows a cross-section through a portion of the produce tray inFIG. 3 and taken along line VII-VII.

FIG. 8 shows a cross-section through a portion of the produce tray inFIG. 3 and taken along line VIII-VIII.

FIG. 9 shows a cross-section similar to that in FIG. 7 of two likeproduce trays stacked and connected to one another.

FIG. 10 shows a top plan view of the lid of the container in FIG. 1.

FIG. 11 shows a bottom perspective view of the lid in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 shows a bottom plan view of the lid in FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 shows a side view of the lid in FIG. 10.

FIG. 14 shows a cross-section through a portion of the lid in FIG. 10and taken along line XIV-XIV.

FIG. 15 shows a cross-section similar to that in FIG. 14 of the lid inFIGS. 1 and 10 connected to the bottom of the base and with the tray inFIGS. 1 and 3 connected to the bottom of the lid.

FIG. 16 shows a cross-section similar to that in FIG. 15 but with thetray in FIGS. 1 and 3 connected to the bottom of the base and with thelid in FIGS. 1 and 10 connected to the bottom of the tray.

FIG. 17 shows a plurality of the previously illustrated lids and traysintermittently stacked and connected to one another.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present invention is for a storage container and a container system.The disclosed container and system solves or improves upon theabove-noted and/or other problems with and disadvantages of currentlyknown storage containers. The disclosed container has a base, a producetray, and a lid. The lid, base, and tray have connecting structures forinterconnecting the various parts together in different arrangements fororganization and storage. The disclosed system employs a plurality ofthe containers whereby the lids and trays can be stacked and connectedin different, optional configurations and can also be optionallyconnected to one another or to the bases. The disclosed produce trayshave a perforate panel that is raised above the base bottom wheninserted in the base. The disclosed lids have vents in the side wall ofthe lid skirt under an overhang or lip. The disclosed trays allow forair to circulate around and under produce stored in the container. Thetrays also elevate produce above the base bottom and thus above anymoisture collected in the base during use. The location of the disclosedvents significantly inhibits unintentional spillage of food particles orliquids through the vents into the lid during use. The disclosed lidsand bases can also be connected to one another during use in a stablestacked configuration, allowing for carrying and transporting multiplecontainers.

The lids, trays, and bases of the disclosed system include connectingstructures that allow for a variety of connections between the parts.The lids and bases include connecting components that allow a lid to beconnected to the bottom of a base. The lids also include connectingcomponents that cooperate with a corresponding component on the trays toallow a lid to be connected to a tray. The trays also include connectingcomponents that allow the trays to be connected to the bottom of a base,to one another, or to either side of the lids. Thus, the lids, trays,and container bases disclosed herein can be connected to one another ina variety of configurations. Multiple lids and trays can be connectedtogether in a stack to keep the lids and trays together when not in use.The stack can be connected to the bottom of a base or to the open top ofa base for use. In another example, a single lid and a tray may beconnected to one another and to the bottom of an associated containerbase to keep the lid, tray, and base together. In still another example,a base sealed with a lid can be stacked onto and connected to a lid onanother base and the trays can reside in the respective bases for use.

Currently known plastic storage containers are typically stored in akitchen cabinet or pantry area when not in use. However, many homes arenot equipped with adequate storage space, especially for kitchen andfood related storage items. Most users have a variety of container sizeswith associated lids that are sized and shaped to fit a particularcontainer to seal the container when in use. Currently known plasticstorage containers typically take up a large amount of cabinet storagespace since the container bases and lids are fairly rigid. A typicaluser may store the container bases and lids separately in the cabinet orpantry. Users often complain that the containers and lids becomeseparated in the cabinet or pantry, requiring time and effort to findthe lid that matches the desired container. This problem is exacerbatedby adding produce trays for the containers to the mix. Even when a baseand lid organizer or rack is employed, it can still be difficult for auser to find a desired base and the appropriate lid for that base. Someusers store their containers in a lid-on condition so that thecontainers may be stacked and the lids readily located. However, manycabinets and pantries are not tall enough to allow more than two suchassembled containers to be stacked, requiring the stacked containers tobe stored in a side-by-side condition. This method takes up a lot ofprecious shelf space in the cabinet or pantry and leaves significantcabinet or pantry storage space unused.

During use, plastic food storage containers hold food items and eitherare stored in a refrigerator or are transported to venues outside thehome, such as, for example, to picnics, parties, pot luck dinners, orchurch socials. Users often employ more than one container to store ortransport different food items and may stack the various containers.Stacking the full containers in a refrigerator, for example, providesorganized storage. However, the stacked containers may slide around,slide off of one another, tip and fall, or otherwise become separatedfrom each other. This can create spills or a cluttered and unorganizedrefrigerator. Additionally, when in use, users typically stack and carryfull containers during transport. However, the full containers caneasily slip off of one another, tip and fall, and become separated. Thismakes it difficult to carry and load the full containers from the homeinto a vehicle and to carry the containers from the vehicle to thedestination. Additionally, it can be difficult to prevent the containersfrom becoming separated and sliding around inside the vehicle duringtransport. This not only can make transporting the full containersdifficult but also can create the possibility of food spillage.

The present invention overcomes these and other problems with priorknown containers by providing a storage container system that includesone or more container bases, produce trays, and associated lids that canbe arranged and connected in a variety of ways during use and forstorage when not in use. The connecting structures of the disclosedcontainers are configured so that the container bases, trays, and lidscan be stacked to form a small footprint and take up as little space aspossible either in use while storing food items in a refrigerator or innon-use while being stored in a cabinet or pantry. Additionally, theconnecting structures allow the container bases and lids to be stackedtogether in a locked, stable, or secure manner to prevent separation tofacilitate storage or transport during use.

Turning now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows one example of a containerassembly or container 20 constructed in accordance with the teachings ofthe present invention. The disclosed container generally has a base 22,a vented lid 24, and a produce tray 26, each to be described below ingreater detail. The disclosed container 20 can be included in a set ofmultiple containers creating a container system, as discussed below. Theinvention is not limited to only a single container 20 or to a specificnumber of the containers. Also, a container system can include multiplecontainers of the same size or can include containers of differentstorage capacity (i.e., three cup, five cup, and seven cup storagecapacity, for example) but that have the same size bottom and topopening to utilize a common lid and tray size. In another example, sucha system can be provided with some containers of the same size, some ofdifferent storage capacity but with common lids and trays, and/or someof different size and shape including different sized lids and trays.

The base 22, lid 24, and tray 26 of the container 20 are shown to be ofa somewhat square-like (i.e., four-sided) or generally rectangularshape. However, other shapes and configurations of the base, tray, andlid, such as round or circular, are contemplated and are intended tofall within the scope of the invention. The invention is not to belimited to a specific container base, tray, and lid perimeter shape oroverall contour. In general, the tray 26 is sized to fit within the base22 as shown in FIG. 2, and the lid 24 is sized to fit over the base 22during use.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, structural details of a representativebase 22 are shown. The representative base 22 can be of a designexclusive to the disclosed produce storage container 20. Alternatively,the base 22 can be common to other food storage containers and systems,whereby the disclosed vented lid 24 and tray 26 are configured to matewith such a common platform base. The disclosed base 22 has a continuouscircumferential side wall 30 and a bottom 32 that defines an interiorstorage space 34. In this example, the side wall 30 and the bottom 32form a substantially four-sided shape, but with rounded corners, and aslight outward and upward taper to the side wall, as are known in theart. As noted above, other base shapes and configurations arecontemplated and fall within the scope of the invention. The specificdimensions of the side wall 30 and the bottom 32 may vary and yet remainwithin the scope of the invention as well. The side wall 30 extendsupwardly and generally outwardly from a perimeter of the bottom 32 andterminates at a top edge 36 that defines an open top 38. The open top 38of the base 22 in this example can be identical in size and shape,regardless of interior volume, to other containers of a multiplecontainer system so that all lids of the system can fit all of thebases.

The base 22 also has a foot or rib 40 that depends downward from thebottom 32 of the base. The foot 40 in this example is a continuous ribon the base bottom 32, but can alternatively be formed as a plurality ofindividual, discrete feet or ribs extending downward from the bottom.The disclosed foot extends circumferentially around the bottom 32 and isspaced inward from the side wall 30. The size, positioning, and shape ofthe foot can vary from the example shown and yet function as intended.The foot 40 provides a resting surface on which the container or basecan rest during use and while being stored. The foot also has anotherpurpose to be described below. A rim flange 42 extends radially outwardfrom the side wall 30 below and spaced from the top edge 36 in thisexample. The rim flange can be provided to assist a user in carrying thecontainer 20 during use and in gaining leverage to install and removethe lid 24 from the base 22.

The base 22 in the disclosed example can be formed of virtually anysuitable material and using likewise suitable manufacturing processes.In one example, the base 22 can be injection molded from a polycarbonatematerial resulting in a substantially rigid and sturdy structure that iswashable and highly durable. The base material can be clear,translucent, semi-transparent, or opaque as well.

With reference to FIGS. 1-8, the produce tray 26 in this example has aperforate panel 50 and a plurality of feet 52 depending downward fromthe bottom of the panel. The disclosed feet 52 in this example coincidewith the generally four-sided configuration of the tray 26. Thus, thetray 26 has four depending feet in this example. As shown in FIG. 2, thefeet 52 are of sufficient height so as to elevate the perforate panel 50above the bottom 32 during use inside of the base 22. The feet 52 arepositioned spaced apart around the circumference of the tray and closerto a perimeter edge of the tray to provide stability during use whilesupporting produce.

In general, the perforate panel 50 has a plurality of drainage holes 54arranged spaced apart over and extending through the panel. In thisexample, four different arrays of drainage holes 54 are provided, onecoinciding with each side of the four-sided tray. The drainage holes 54in this example are in the form of generally elongate through-slots.However, the arrangement, location, shape, and contour of the drainageholes can vary widely from the example shown and yet function asintended. A pair of central holes 56 is positioned near the center ofthe tray 26 in this example. As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 7, apartial hood 58 projects upward and over a portion of each of thecentral holes 56, each in an opposite direction from the other. Thehoods 58 create opposed finger grips to make it easy for a user tograsp, install, and remove the produce tray 26 from within the base 22.Thus, inclusion of the hoods or finger grips allows for the produce tray26 to be sized to fit closely within the contour of the base side wall30.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 2, 7, and 8, the perforate panel 50 issurrounded by an upstanding perimeter wall 60 extending up from aperimeter of the panel. A tray ledge or rim 62 extends radially outwardand around the tray 26 from an upper end of the tray wall 60. Withreference to FIGS. 6 and 8, a plurality of drainage openings 64 isprovided through the tray wall 60. The openings 60 are spaced apartaround the tray wall. In the disclosed example, the perforate panel 50and of the tray wall 60 are joined with one another at a curvedtransition or corner joint 66. The drainage openings extend down to alevel of the perforate panel surface on the joint to allow drainage ofany moisture that collects on the perforate panel adjacent the wall. Theperforate panel 50 in the disclosed example is also not perfectlyplanar, but instead is slightly curved or crowned upward moving from thejoint 66 around the panel to the central holes 56. A slight crown of theperforate panel 50 also encourages moisture collecting on the panel toflow or trickle toward the nearest drainage hole 54 or opening 64.

As with the base 22, the produce tray 26 can be formed of any suitablematerial and fabricated from any likewise suitable manufacturingprocess. In one example, the produce tray 26 can be injection moldedfrom a polypropylene material, a polycarbonate material, or the like. Inaddition, the produce tray 26 can also be formed from a clear,translucent, semi-transparent, or opaque material and can be formed inany desirable color. In one example, the produce tray can be formed of agreen material representative of the color of many produce items so asto make the produce tray easy for a consumer to locate.

As noted above, the container 20 disclosed and described herein isprovided with a multi-component connecting structure for connecting thebase 22, lid 24, and tray 26 with one another in a number of optionalarrangements. In one aspect of the invention, the produce tray 26disclosed herein is provided with two connecting components including afirst tray component 70 and a second tray component 72. With referenceto FIGS. 7-9, the first tray connecting component 70 is provided in theform of a plurality of elongate lips or projections 74 that extendradially inward from the tray wall 60. In the disclosed example, each ofthe four sides of the produce tray includes one of the projections 74centrally located on its corresponding side of the tray wall. Each ofthe projections 74 creates an undercut or groove 76 directly beneath thecorresponding projection. The combination of the projections 74 andundercuts 76 on the top of the tray 26 combine to define the first trayconnecting component 70.

With reference to these same figures, each of the feet 52 has a bead orprotrusion 78 on its lower end. The protrusions 78 project radiallyoutward from the corresponding feet 52 on the produce tray 26. Eachprotrusion 78 is positioned to coincide with one set of the projections74 and grooves 76 on the tray. The combination of the beads 78 and therespective feet 52 on the bottom of the tray 26 combine to define thesecond tray connecting component 72.

One function of the first and second tray connecting components 70 and72 is to permit directly interconnecting two of the like trays 26together as depicted in FIG. 9. In the disclosed example, the connectingcomponents 70 and 72 create a snap connecting structure for snapping twoof the trays together. The feet 52 on one of the trays 26 can bepositioned directly over the projections 74 on another one of the trays26. The top tray can then be pushed downward (or the lower tray up) ontothe lower tray until the protrusions 78 snap over the correspondingprojections 74 and seat within the undercuts or grooves 76 below theprojections. In this manner, the trays 26 can be removably connected toone another for storage or stacked usage. The resilient nature of thetray material, along with the positional and dimensional relationship ofthe two connecting components 70 and 72 can create the interferencenecessary to provide the snap connection in this example.

As will be evident to those having ordinary skill in the art, the snapconnection of the disclosed example can be replaced by other suitableconnecting structures, mechanisms, and devices. In one example, afriction fit arrangement can be provided to connect two of the trays toone another. In such an example, a resilient, flexible thermoplasticelastomer material can be utilized to form at least one of the twoconnecting components 70 or 72, i.e., the projections 74 or theprotrusions 78. The other of the two connecting components can beprovided as a generally vertically oriented surface that issubstantially flat in a vertical direction. Mechanical interference canbe designed into the two connecting components so that the thermoplasticelastomer component is compressed against the flat surface of the othercomponent when connected. Friction between the two mating components, aswell as compressive force applied between the two interfering trays, canretain the two trays in the connected configuration of FIG. 9 without apositive detent or snap structure. Other tray-to-tray connectingstructures and arrangements can be configured within the spirit andscope of the present invention. In one example, only one of the twoconnecting components may be optionally provided on the tray 26, wherebythe trays could not be directly connected to one another, but insteadcould only be connected to a lid and/or a base.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 10-14, the lid 24 in this example isformed with features that allow it to cover and seal the open top 38 ofthe base 22. As shown in FIGS. 1, 10, and 11, the lid 24 has a mainpanel 90 with a top side 92, a bottom side 94, and a perimeter skirt 96.The skirt 96 circumvents the perimeter of the main panel 90. As will beevident to those of ordinary skill in the art, the skirt 96 can vary inconfiguration and construction and yet fall within the spirit and scopeof the present invention. In this example, the skirt 96 has a skirt wall98 that extends around the main panel 90 and generally perpendicularlydown from the plane of the main panel. In this example, the skirt wallis positioned inward from an outer edge 100 of the main panel. Thiscreates a lid rim 102 projecting radially outward from the lid 24 beyondthe skirt wall 98. A plurality of tabs 104 project down from underneaththe main panel 90. The tabs 104 extend in a radial direction outward andmerge with the skirt wall 98. The tabs create a standoff distancebetween a bottom edge 106 of each tab and the bottom side surface 94 ofthe main panel 90.

Though not shown herein, the lid 24 fits onto the base 22 so that thetop edge 36 of the side wall 30 is received within the circumference ofthe skirt wall 98. In this in-use configuration, the lid 24 would coverand close off the open top 38 to seal the storage space 34. The top side92 faces upward and the bottom side 94 faces downward into the storagespace 34 of the container 20. In this example, the skirt wall 98 has agradually thicker portion 108 that is shaped to form an annular sealridge 110. The ridge 110 extends radially inward and circumferentiallyaround the inner surface of the skirt wall 98. The top edge 36 of thebase side wall 30 can have a bead (not shown) thereon, if desired, tofurther bear against an inner surface of the skirt wall with the lidinstalled on the base. An upper portion 112 of the side wall 30 isdefined above the rim flange 42 and can be angled or tapered slightlyradially outward. When the lid 24 is fit onto the base 22 to seal offthe open top 38, the seal ridge 110 will bear interferingly against theoutside surface of the upper side wall portion 112. The top edge 36 ofthe base 22 will seat against the bottom edges 106 of the tabs 104,spaced from the underside surface or bottom side 94 of the main panel90. The lid may be drawn downward by the geometry of the upper portion112 and the ridge 110 to assist in retaining the lid 24 installed on thebase 22. The seal ridge 110 will create a seal between the lid 24 andthe base 22 to close off the storage space, as is know in the art.

The shape and construction of the skirt 96 on the lid 24 and the upperportion 112 of the base side wall 30 can vary from the above- describedexample and yet remain within the scope of the invention. In addition,other lid-to-base seal configurations can be utilized on the storagecontainer 20 disclosed herein and yet fall within the spirit and scopeof the invention.

As shown in FIGS. 11-14, one or more sides of the four-sided lid 24 caninclude a vent opening 114 through the skirt wall 98. In the disclosedexample, two of the opposed sides include such an opening 114. Each ventopening 114 is positioned high on the wall so that, when the lid 24 isinstalled on the base 22, the top edge 36 of the base side wall 30 willbe below the vent openings. This is ensured by the position of the tabbottom edges 106. Thus, even with the lid 24 installed on the base 20,the vent openings 114 are clear and uncovered to permit air flow betweenthe storage space 34 and the environment outside of the container 20. Inthis example, the vent openings 114 are tucked closely up and under thelid rim flange 42. Thus, the vent openings are substantially protectedagainst spilled liquid or food items from inadvertently entering thecontainer 20 through the vent openings.

The number, size, spacing, shape, and the like of the vent openings 114can vary considerably from the examples shown here in. It is known thatproduce freshness may be hindered if the vent openings are too large,too many, too small, or too few. Thus, it is within the purview of thepresent invention to provide adjustable size vents, a selectable numberof vents, or a plurality of optionally selectable lids with differenttypes of vent openings.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 10-12, and 14, the lid 24 also has a first lidconnecting component 120 and a second lid connecting component 122 ofthe multi-component connecting structure for the container 20. As withthe tray 26, the first lid component 120 and second lid component 122can be formed in a number of alternative ways that differ from thestructures shown. In one example, these components form a snapconnection, similar to the above-described produce tray 26. In thedisclosed example, the first lid connecting component 120 is provided onthe top side 92 on the main panel 90 of the lid 24. The second lidconnecting component 122 is provided on the bottom side 94 of the mainpanel 90.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 14, the main panel 90 has a central recessed orsunken section 124 surrounded by a vertical upstanding lid wall 126 thatfaces the recessed section. In the disclosed example, the lid wall 126has four side segments that correspond to the four-sided shape of thelid 24. Each of the four segments of the lid wall has a lip orprojection 128 extending radially inward toward the opposite lid wallsegment. Similar to the tray connecting components described above, anundercut or groove 130 is formed beneath each of the lips 128 on the topside of the lid. The combination of the lips 128 and grooves 130 on thetop side 92 of the lid define the first lid connecting component 120.

Four flanges 132 project down from the bottom side 94 of the lid 24 inthis example. Similar to the tray feet 52 described above, each flange132 has a bead or catch 134 that projects radially outward from a bottomedge of the corresponding flange. The second lid connecting component122 is formed by a combination of the flanges 132 and the respectivebeads or catches 134.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 15, the base 22 has a base connectingcomponent 140 as another of the components of the multi-componentsconnecting structure for the container 20 disclosed and describedherein. In this example, the foot or rib 40 is angled in a radiallyoutward direction moving away from the bottom 32 of the base 22. Eachside segment of the four-sided, continuous rib or foot also has a ribprotrusion 142 that projects radially outward from the foot or rib 40.An inset or shallow channel 144 is formed above each of the protrusions142 below the bottom 32 of the base 22 and on an exterior of the foot40. The combination of the inset channels 144 and rib protrusions 142form the base connecting component 140 in this example.

As with the base 22 and produce tray 26, the lid can also be formed ofany suitable material and fabricated from any likewise suitablemanufacturing process. In one example, the lid 24 can be injectionmolded from a polypropylene material, a polyethylene material, or thelike. In addition, the lid 24 can also be formed from a clear,translucent, semi-transparent, or opaque material and can be formed inany desirable color. In one example, the lid can also be formed of agreen material representative of the color of many produce items so asto make the lid easy to find and easy for a consumer to find and tomatch up with the produce tray 26.

One function of the first lid connecting component 120 is to permitdirectly interconnecting the lid 24 to the bottom 32 of the base 22 asdepicted in FIG. 15. In the disclosed example, the first lid connectingcomponent 120 and the base component 140 also create a snap connectingstructure for snapping the lid to the base bottom. The foot or rib 40 onthe base 22 can be positioned directly over the recessed section 124 onthe top side 92 of the lid 24. The base can then be pushed downward (orthe lid upward) onto the lid until the rib protrusions 142 snap over thecorresponding lid wall lips 128 and the lips seat within the insetchannels 144 below the base bottom 32 and above the rib protrusions 142.In this manner, the lid 24 and base 22 can be removably connected to oneanother for storage. The resilient nature of the lid material, andperhaps the rib 40 and protrusions 142, along with the positional anddimensional relationship of the two connecting components 120 and 140,can create the interference necessary to provide the snap connection inthis example.

Another function of the first tray connecting component 70 in thisexample is to permit directly interconnecting the tray 26 to the basebottom 32, as depicted in FIG. 16. In the disclosed example, theconnecting component 70 and 140 also create a snap connecting structurefor snapping the tray to the base. The foot or rib 40 on the base 22 canbe positioned directly over the projections 74 on the tray 26. The basecan then be pushed downward (or the tray up) onto the base until theprotrusions 142 snap over the corresponding projections 74. The baseprotrusions 142 will seat within the undercuts or grooves 76 below theprojections on the tray and, likewise, the tray projections 74 will seatin the inset channels 144 on the base. In this manner, the base and traycan be removably connected to one another for storage. The resilientnature of the tray material, and perhaps the rib 40 and protrusions 142,along with the positional and dimensional relationship of the twoconnecting components 70 and 140 can create the interference necessaryto provide the snap connection in this example.

In the disclosed example, one function of the second lid connectingcomponent 122 and another function of the first and second trayconnecting components 70 and 72 and the first lid connecting component120 are to permit directly interconnecting the tray 26 to the lid 24 oneither side of the lid. With reference to FIGS. 15 and 17, the tray 26can be connected to the bottom side 94 of the lid 24. In essentially thesame manner as previously described, the first connecting component 70on the tray 26 can be connected to the second connecting component 122on the lid 24. In other words, the tray 26 can be snapped onto theflanges 132 of the lid 24 so that the catches 134 snap past theprojections 74 and a seat in the grooves 76. With reference to FIGS. 16and 17, the tray 26 can also be connected to the top side 92 of the lid24. In essentially the same manner as previously described, the secondconnecting component 72 of the tray can be connected to the firstconnecting component 120 on the lid. In other words, the tray feet 52can be snapped onto the lips 128 on top of the lid with the protrusions78 seated in the grooves 130.

In the disclosed example, two like lids 24 can not be connected directlyto one another. The flanges 132 are disclosed is not being long enoughto connect with the first connecting components 120 on a like lid. Aswill be evident to those having ordinary skill in the art, the lids canbe constructed to optionally connect directly with one another inaccordance with the teachings of the present invention. With referenceto FIG. 17, a plurality of lids 24 and trays 26 can be connected to oneanother in alternating fashion for storage and organization purposes.

In the disclosed example, the various lid, tray, and base connectingcomponents are configured to perform multiple connecting functions.However, each of these container parts can alternatively be configuredto include additional connecting components so that each connectingcomponent on each part performs only one connecting function, such asonly a lid-to-base connecting function, a tray-to-lid bottom connectingfunction, a tray-to-lid top connecting function, or a tray-to-baseconnecting function. The connecting component functions on the lids andtrays can also be reversed or inverted from disclosed arrangement. Inother words, the bottom side 94 of a lid, instead of the top side, canbe configured to connect to the base bottom or to the feet of a tray.Likewise, the tray feet can be configured to connect to the base bottomor to the bottom side of the lid, instead of the top side.

In another example, individual bases 22 without lids or trays can benested to form a nested base stack for storage. If desired, the stack oftrays and lids in FIG. 17 can then be connected to the lowermost basebottom for organized storage of a set of the containers 20.

If a container system with multiple containers 20 is provided, thedisclosed connecting structure arrangement provides another advantage.With the trays in the bases and produce inside the containers, onecontainer can be connected to the top of the lid of another containerfor stable and easy transport of the filled containers. The containerswill not slide off of one another or tip, making it easy to transport astack of the filled containers 20. Another advantage of the disclosedcontainer 20 is that the perforated produce tray will elevate produceabove the bottom of the base 22. Any moisture collecting in thecontainer, such as by condensation, will sit at a bottom of the base.The produce will not sit in the moisture, which will help to keepproduce fresher longer as well.

As noted above with respect to the trays 26, the snap connection for thelids and bases can also be replaced by other suitable connectingstructures, mechanisms, and devices. In one example, a friction fitarrangement can be provided to connect the tray to the base or to thelid. Likewise, a friction fit connection can be provided to connect thelid to the base or to the tray. Other tray-to-base, lid-to-base, andlid-to-tray connecting structures and arrangements can be configuredwithin the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Although certain storage containers and systems have been describedherein in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure, thescope of coverage of this patent is not limited thereto. On thecontrary, this patent covers all embodiments of the teachings of thedisclosure that fairly fall within the scope of permissible equivalents.

1. A food storage container comprising: a base having a bottom, acontinuous side wall extending up from the bottom and terminating at anupper end, a storage space within the side wall above the bottom, and anopen top bounded by the upper end; a lid having a main panel section anda perimeter skirt around the main panel section, the lid configured toclose off the open top near the upper end of the side wall; a trayhaving a perforate panel and a tray foot, the tray sized to fit withinthe storage space with the tray foot resting on the bottom of the baseand the perforate panel elevated above the bottom of the base; and aconnecting structure having a first lid component carried on the lid, abase component carried on the base, and a first tray component carriedon the tray, the connecting structure configured so that the lid and thetray can be connected to one another and to the bottom under the base.2. A food storage container according to claim 1, wherein the lidincludes at least one vent hole that is open when the lid is installedto close off the open top.
 3. A food storage container according toclaim 2, wherein the at least one vent hole is formed through a skirtwall of the perimeter skirt and is positioned above the upper end of theside wall when the lid is installed to close off the open top.
 4. A foodstorage container according to claim 1, wherein the first lid componentcan be directly connected to the base component under the bottom withthe tray directly connected to the lid.
 5. A food storage containeraccording to claim 4, wherein a second tray component of the connectingstructure can be directly connected to a second lid component of theconnecting structure with the lid directly connected to the base.
 6. Afood storage container according to claim 1, wherein the first traycomponent can be directly connected to the base under the bottom withthe lid directly connected to the tray.
 7. A food storage containeraccording to claim 1, wherein a second lid component of the connectingstructure can be directly connected to a second tray component of theconnecting structure with the tray directly connected to the base.
 8. Afood storage container according to claim 1, wherein the tray can beselectively connected to either one of a top side of the lid and to abottom side of the lid.
 9. A food storage container according to claim6, wherein the tray foot connects the tray to the top side of the lidand a portion of the perforate panel connects the tray to the bottomside of the lid.
 10. A food storage container according to claim 1,wherein the base component is formed by part of a base foot thatprojects downward from the bottom under the base, and wherein the trayand the lid can each be selectively snapped onto the base foot.
 11. Afood storage container according to claim 10, wherein the connectingstructure further comprises: a second lid component on an underside ofthe main panel section of the lid, the first lid component being on atop side of the main panel section; and a second tray component formedby a part of the perforate panel of the tray, the first tray componentbeing formed by a part of the tray foot, wherein the first lid componentcan be optionally snapped onto the base foot to connect the lid to thebottom of the base and the perforate panel can be snapped onto thesecond lid component to connect the tray to the lid, and wherein theperforate panel can be optionally snapped onto the base foot to connectthe tray to the bottom of the base and the first lid part can thesnapped onto the tray foot to connect the lid to the tray.
 12. A foodstorage container according to claim 1, wherein the connecting structureincorporates only a friction fit connection between the lid, the tray,and the base when connected to one another.
 13. A food storage containeraccording to claim 1, wherein the connecting structure incorporates asnap fit connection between the lid, the tray, and the base whenconnected to one another.
 14. A food storage container systemcomprising: a plurality of bases each having a bottom, a continuous sidewall extending up from the bottom and terminating at an upper end, astorage space within the side wall above the bottom, and an open topbounded by the upper end; a plurality of lids each having a main panelsection and a perimeter skirt around the main panel section, each lidconfigured to connect with the side wall and close off the open top of arespective base of the plurality of bases; a plurality of trays eachhaving a perforate panel and a tray foot, each of the plurality of trayssized to fit within the storage space of a corresponding base of theplurality of bases with the tray foot resting on the bottom of thecorresponding base and the perforate panel elevated above the bottom;and a plurality of connecting structures including a base component onthe bottom under each of the plurality of bases, first and second lidcomponents on each of the plurality of lids, and first and second traycomponents on each of the plurality of trays, wherein each of theplurality of connecting structures is configured so that the pluralityof lids and the plurality of trays can be connected to one another andto the bottom under one of the plurality of bases.
 15. A food storagecontainer system according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality oflids includes at least one vent hole that is open when the lid isinstalled to close off the open top.
 16. A food storage container systemaccording to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of trays can beselectively connected to either one of a top side and a bottom side ofeach of the plurality of lids.
 17. A food storage container according toclaim 1, wherein the plurality of connecting structures incorporatesonly a friction fit connection between the plurality of lids, trays, andbases when connected to one another.
 18. A food storage containeraccording to claim 1, wherein the plurality of connecting structuresincorporates a snap fit connection between the pluralities of lids,trays, and bases when connected to one another.
 19. A food storagecontainer system comprising: a plurality of bases each having a bottom,a continuous side wall extending up from the bottom and terminating atan upper end, a storage space within the side wall above the bottom, andan open top bounded by the upper end; a plurality of lids each having amain panel section and a perimeter skirt around the main panel section,each lid configured to connect with the side wall and close off the opentop of a respective base of the plurality of bases; a plurality of trayseach having a perforate panel and a tray foot, each of the plurality oftrays sized to fit within the storage space of one of the plurality ofbases with the tray foot resting on the bottom of the one base and theperforate panel elevated above the bottom; and wherein the plurality oflids and the plurality of trays can be connected to one another in a lidand tray stack and the lid and tray stack can be connected to the bottomunder any one of the plurality of bases.
 20. A food storage containersystem according to claim 19, wherein each of the plurality of bases issized to nest at least partially within the interior storage space ofthe other bases.